Aeroplane



Mar. 27, 1923.

- J. s. JOHNSTON ET AL AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 28, 1918 5 sheets-sheet l BY fimm ATTORNEY.-

Mar. 27, 192s.

1,449,860 J. 3. JOHNSTON ET AL AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 28, 1918 3 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Man 27, 1923.

J. S. JOHNSTON ET AL AEROPLANE 1918 5 sheets-sheet s Filed Jan. 28

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 27, E. m

rarer JAMES'S. JOHNSTON AND MILLARD L. JOHNSTON; OFEUYIIGA, NEW K.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 214,201.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES S. JOHNSTON and'MILLARD 'L. JOHNSTON,CltlZBDS of the United States, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Imsame, reference being-had to the accom-- panying drawings in which likereference characters refer to like parts throughout the specification.

The object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane that has an efiicientand simple mechanism for the control'of the movements of the lane while in the air. Tot-his end the aeroplane is equipped with a rudder that is adapted to be'turned about on a horizontal axis by the manipulation .of' a handle andto be swung at an angle by the actuation of a pedal, whereby to govern the direction of travel .of the aeroplane.

The object will be understood by referring to the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view .of the aeroplane; y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a gear and indicator employed; 7

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a partition used;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of'a'n end member of a rock frame employed;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a pendulum member employed;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a pedal and supporting member employed;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the aero- P Fig. 8 isa detail perspective viewof the rudder'plane and immediate parts used;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a seat and holding bracket. employed;

Fig. '10, is an-enlarged detail; view of a rock frame used; a '11 is a fragmentary view ofthe aeroplane, showing a vertical section of a modification thereof; v v

is a fragmentary yiew showin'gua 'h'orlaontal section o'f'the'aerofiane' and'look ing down from above upon the planes which are actuated 1n a modified manner;

Fig. 1'3 1s a fragmentary View, show ng a vertical section-of the modified construetion illustrated in Fig. l2. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the body or casing of the aeroplane is represented by -1F- and is equipped with bility to the aeroplanewhile in the air. I An casin 1- to admit the pilot to his seat 4, wh ch is suspended by the brackets 15 that- 8. The rock frame 8' comprises the bars 7 and end members 9 and 10. The end member-9 has an orifice 11 which bears upon the end of the tube 12. .A spur gear 13 is opening 3 is made in the forward part of .the v are sleeved toth'e bars? of the rock frame.

formed integral'with the tube 12 and meshes with a spur gear 1% fixed to turn with the shaft 15 that has bearings at either end in the members 9 and 10. h A spur gear 16 is mountedto turn with the opposite end of the shaft. 15 and meshes with a spur gear 17. The gears 14, :16 and 17 are all of equal diameter. The gear 17 is made integral with a shaft 18 that has a crank handle 19,

whereby to revolve said gear and shaft within the collar 20 that projects through D an openingin the end member 10 and held thereto by .the nut 21 mounted .upon the threaded end of the collar 20. A key 22 between the contiguousedge of the end member 10 and the collar 20 prevents said collar form turning. withthe' shaft 18. .The outer face 23 of the collar 20 is out with short fissures 24 disposed at each quarter turn of the face 23. and designated Up ,"Right,

Down and Left, whereby to indicate the direction oftravel of the aeroplaneito whichthe steering mechanism is set. A

tooth 25 integral with the crank handle 19 is adapted to fit into the fissures 24:, when the orankhan'dle. 19 is turned.'wherebylto indicate the proper degree o fi turning ,of'

thehandle 19 to secure thev desired direction of the aeroplane. A 'spring :26. disposed about the shaft 1'8,' p'ermits the tooth 25 to move in and out of the fissures 24.

The turning .ofthe handle 19 will actuate the train o f.gears17 ,,1'6, ltand' :13 which 'latt er gear is integral with thetubeIZ... ,A

cap or member 30 is jfi'xed to revolve with the opposite l. .f."the' i1 Th gap '30 is? recessed. a Bl fOr the'projeotioa 9i a link 32 that is pivoted at one end to the shaft 33 and at the other to the bracket 34 that is riveted to the rudder plane 35. The bracket 34 is fulcrumed to the flanges 36 of the cap 30 at 37. p

The tube 12 has bearings in the boss 38 attached to the casing 1- and in the boss 39 attached to the partition 40 that has an enlarged perimeter 41. Screws or bolts 42 are used to hold the partition 40 in place with respect to the casing -1-. The shaft 33, disposed inside of the tube 12, is reduced at 43 and surrounded with a coiled spring 44 that bears at one end against the shoulder of the shaft 33 and at the other against the shoulder 45 formed in the tube 12, whereby to push the shaft 33 normally outward. A collar 46 is fixed to the free end of the shaft 33. The upper ends 4747 of a member 48, which ends'straddle the shaft 33, bear against the inner surface of the collar 46. The lower ends 49-49 of the member 48, which ends straddle the shaft 15 are curved upward to form'bearings about a bracket 50 fixed t0 the end member 9 of the rock frame 8. One of said ends 49 is extended to provide a pedal 51. The bracket 50 acts as a fulcrum for the member 48, whereby the pressure downward of the foot upon the pedal 51 will rock the member 48 and cause the upper ends 47 to draw the shaft 33 forward against the tension of the coiled spring 44. This movement of the shaft 33 outward will draw the rudder plane 35 into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The outer edges of the flanges 36 of the cap 30 are beveled at 52 to allow for the actuation of the rudder 35 to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The bars 7 of the rock frame 8 are extended through and into the pendulum member 53 which has a lug 54 that projects into an are shaped recess 56 made in the forward partition equipped with an enlarged perimeter. Bolts 42 are used to hold the partition 55 in place. Y

The mechanism for moving the aeroplane through the air embodies the propeller blades 60 which are formed integral with the hub 61 that is threaded to the forward end of the-hollow tube 62. The tube 62 has loose bearings in the boss 63 secured to. the casing 1 and in; the forward partition 55. A gear wheel 65 is attached to the rear end of the tube 12 and is connected by a sprocket chain 66 with the gear wheel 67 of the engine 68 housed in the casing 69 attached to the frame 1- of the aeroplane.

a -The upper plane 79 is held by a frame work 71 that is secured to the casing --1. The aperture in the plane for the entrance and exit of the pilot to the interior of the aeroplane is normally closed by the hinged-doors 7 2-72. The doors '72 are provided each with a recess 73, for the insertion of the hand of the pilot, whereby to throw open the same for admission. The lower plane 80 has a central recess for the projection of the engine casing 69. Stay rods are used to strengthen the planes 70, 80.

A machine gun 81 is disposed within the hollow tube 62. The forward end of the machine gun 81 is supported in the boss 82 that fits loosely within the tube 62. The stock end of the machine gun 81 rests in arecess 83 made in the end member 10 of the rock frame 8, whereby the machine gun 81 will revolve with the frame 8 to thereby always remain in a level position relative to the earth and irrespective of the aeroplane. A loose collar may be mounted to turn in the recess 83 and the stock mounted in the collar. whereby the gain 81 could be held in a level position, when the rock frame 8 is locked to the casing 1 of visible through the rear sight 86, althougl'ithe rapidly moving propeller blades 60 intervene.

In order to guide the direction of the aeroplane while it is in the air, the aviator will manipulate the crank handle 19. If he wishes to go upward, the aviator will turn the handle 19 until the tooth 25 thereof is opposite the fissure 24 mark up on the face or dial 23 and then push downward with his footupon the pedal 51. The actuation of the handle 19 will revolve the train of gears 17, 16, 14 and 13 and effect a rotation of the tube 12 and rudder 35 into a horizontal position, and the actuation of the pedal 51 will rock the member 48, where by to draw the shaft forward against the tension of the coiled spring 44, to turn the rudder 35 upon its fulcrum 37, so that the rudder will be inclined at an angle upward. This position of the rudder 35 will effect an upward movement of the aero plane. Likewise, the rudder 35 can be turned at any angle on its horizontal axis and then inclined at an angle to effect the desired direction of the aeroplane. Immediately the foot pressure on the pedal 51 is withdrawn, the coiled spring 44 will force the shaft and rudder 35 connected thereto by the link 32 back to normal position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1.

The aviator will employ only one hand and one foot in guiding the course of the aeroplane and will have one hand freeto work the machine gun 81. From his seat 4, the aviator will be able to look out about to alight.

through the glass windows 90 of the frame work 71 and also have opportunity to look along the sights 85 and 86 of the machine gun 81, whereby to aim the same.

The rock frame 8 will hold the aviator and gun 81 in horizontal position with reference to the earth, irrespective of the tilt of the aeroplane.

Fig. 11 shows a modified manner of actuating the rudder 91 of the aeroplane. The rudder 91 is here joined to the casing 1 by aball and socket joint 92, whereby the rudder can be swung at various angles to the casing 1, to direct the course of the aeroplane. The rudder 91 has four planes disposed at right angles to each other. A (0rd 97 or cable is attached to each plane near its outer edge and passed along to the interior of the aeroplane where it is finally secured to a disk 93. The disk 93 is mounted by a ball and socket joint 94 to the partition 95 and has a handle 96. The aeroplane can be directed in its course by mov ing the handle 96 in the given direction, whereby the rudder 91 will be actuated at an angle corresponding to the direction of movement of the handle 96 and of the course desired.

Fig. 12 shows certain mechanism for ac tuating a divided plane designated 100100, whereby to guide the direction of the aeroplane. The mechanism for actuating the planes 100 will effect aquicker result than that effected by the rudder. The planes are keyed to turn with the shafts 101101 which are mounted to revolve with the spur gears102-102 in mesh with the rack 108. A' shaft 104 is formed integral with the rack 103 and is mounted to slide in a sleeve 105 of a bracket 106 secured to the casing -1. The rack 103 is moved back and forth by a lever handle 107 having an elongated recess for the play of a pin 108 mounted in the bifurcated end of the rack 103. The lever handle 107 is fulcrumed at 110 to a bracket 111 attached to the casing -1-.

Although the wheels of the aeroplane are not here shown, the same may be mounted upon a movable frame that can be drawn up within the casing 1- when the aeroplane is in the air, whereby to eliminate any resistance thereof by the air and then dropped down again when the aeroplane is The movable frame can be controlled by a lever located near the aviators seat 4:.

A bolt or shaft may be inserted through pedal for actuating said shaft,'a-nd a spring.

for yieldingly holding said shaft in given position, whereby toreturn the rudder to its original position.

2. In an aeroplane, arudder adapted to move in two planes, a train of gears for turning said rudder in one plane, a spring pressed longitudinally movable shaft for tilting said rudder in another plane, and a handle and a pedal for controlling the movements of said rudder, whereby to guide the aeroplane.

3. In an aeroplane, a casing having an aperture for the entrance and exit of a pilot, a cap disposed at the end of said casing, a rudder fulcrumed to said cap, a longitudinally movable shaft, whereby said rudder can be tilted in one plane, a hollow tube,

whereby said rudder can be revolved in still another plane. to direct the course of the aeroplane, and a pedal for actuating said shaft.

4. In an aeroplane, a rudder adapted to revolve, a rotary cap adapted to support said rudder in a pivotal manner, a spring actuated shaft for turning said rudder upon its pivot, a tube connected with said cap, and gears for revolving said tube and rudder, whereby to aid in directing the course of the aeroplane.

In an aeroplane, a rudder adapted to revolve. a rotary cap adapted to. support said rudder in a pivotal manner, a spring actuated shaft for turning said rudder upon its pivot, a tube connected with said cap. gears connected with said tube, a" pivoted member adapted to actuate said shaft, I

whereby to tilt the rudder upon its pivot,

JAMES S. JOHNSTON. MILLARD L. JOHNSTON. 

